Man sentenced to 69 years in shooting near U of I

CHAMPAIGN — A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 69 years in a 2016 fatal shooting during a party near the University of Illinois.

Judge Roger Webber sentenced Robbie Patton Thursday. Patton was convicted in September of first-degree murder for 22-year-old George Korchev’s death. He was also convicted of aggravated battery with a firearm for wounding three others.

Police say the shooting followed a disagreement at a party in Champaign that led to a fight. None of the four victims were in the fight.

Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Larson sought a 115-year sentence, trying to show a pattern of wrongdoing noting an incident as a minor where Patton pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm.